Readying Your Home Heating System for the Winter

It’s hard to think about freezing temperatures when you are in the midst of a heat wave, but alas, the days of summer will soon draw to a close, and before you know it, you’ll be turning the air conditioner off and turning the heat on.

While it may seem silly to think about your home heating oil long island system while you’re wearing shorts and a tank top, the summer is the perfect time to make sure that your system is a-go for the upcoming fall and winter. Here are some tips that will ensure you won’t be left out in the cold when the weather turns frosty – and keep some money in your pocket, too.

Heating oil delivery

Schedule a Maintenance Visit

Just because you aren’t using your heating system doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be maintained. In fact, the best time to schedule maintenance is when you aren’t using your system.

Schedule an appointment to have your home heating system maintained now, before the cold weather arrives. Doing so will ensure that everything is running smoothly when the heat of summer fades into the coolness of fall and coldness of winter. If anything is wrong, it can be repaired before you need to flip the heat on, so you won’t be left in the cold. Plus, a maintenance visit can help you save money on your home heating oil because systems that operate more efficiently use less oil.

Check for Air Leaks

When the weather outside is frightful, heated air is so delightful. If there are any cracks or other air leaks in your house, that delightful heat will pour out of your house. Not only does this mean that you’ll feel a chill inside, but it also means that you’ll end up spending more on your home heating oil.

Heat pours out of cracks and other air leaks, so your home won’t efficiently maintain the warmth that your home heating system is producing. You’ll end up pushing your thermostat up, which translates to a larger home heating oil bill.

Check your house for any cracks or other air leaks. Some of the most common problem areas for leaks include the windows, door frames, baseboards, areas around permanent air conditioning units, and even dryer vents. Basically, any location in your house that has a connection to the outdoors could potentially leak air. If you find any leaks, seal them up with caulk. You’ll be glad you did it now, in the middle of the summer, when the cold weather arrives.

home heating oil long island

Upgrade Your Insulation

Insulation is one of the most effective ways to keep warm air inside your home. It keeps the temperature inside comfortable, and it keeps your heating home oil delivery bill down.

Check your insulation. If it is less than 12 inches thick, you should consider adding more. It’s relatively inexpensive to add insulation, and the investment could end up saving you a tremendous amount of money when winter arrives; not to mention, it will keep you cozy and warm.

Put in a Programmable Thermostat

A programmable thermostat is one of the easiest ways to reduce the cost of your home heating oil bill. Your home doesn’t have to be the perfect temperature all the time. For example, when nobody is home or when you are sleeping upstairs and nobody is downstairs, the heat can drop a little lower. By installing a programmable thermostat, you can save a lot of money on your heating oil. Why? – Because you can set the thermostat to run at a lower temperature when you aren’t using the space, so you won’t be using heating oil unnecessarily. You can also set the thermostat so that the temperature goes up right before you return home or before you wake up so you’ll always be nice and cozy.

oil long island

Don’t forget the Water Heater

A lot of energy is required to heat water, so you want to make sure that you aren’t using that energy poorly. You can easily prevent wasted heat by insulating your water heater tank, as well as the hot water pipes. You’ll save a good bit of cash, and you’ll reduce the risk of running out of hot water, too.

Fill It Up!

You’ll save yourself a pretty penny when you fill up on home heating oil in the summer months because the prices are usually lower during the summer. Plus, you will also have peace of mind knowing that your system is fueled up and ready to go when the cold weather does arrive.

For more tips on how to get your home heating system ready for the cold weather, to schedule maintenance, or a fuel oil delivery, contact us today! We have the cheapest heating oil in the area.